Keyboard construction for check writers, etc.



May 26,- 1953 I J w n- E 2,639,663

v KEYBOARD CONSTRUCTION FOR CHECK WRITERS, ETC

Filed D80. 3, 1947 s Sheets-Shet 1 May 26, 1953 J. WHITAKER KEYBOARDCONSTRUCTION FOR CHECK WRITERS, ETC

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1947 May 26, 1953 J. WHITAKER 2,639,663

KEYBOARD CONSTRUCTION FOR CHECK WRITERS, ETC

Filed Dec. 5, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented May 26, 1953 KEYBOARDCONSTRUCTION FOR CHECK WRITERS, ETC.

John Whitaker, North Wales, Pa., assignor to Safeguard Corporation,Lansdale, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application December 3, 1947,Serial No. 789,381

7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in keyboardconstruction for use with checkwriters, calculating machines, or in anyinstance where it is desirable to set up a number of characters,elements, holes, spots, etc., selectively in predetermined relation toeach other as, for example, on a common printing line, in a devicehaving the characters, etc. arranged in series each consisting of aplurality of such characters, etc. disposed in spaced linear relation toeach other on a separate carrier and wherein carriers are movable in andalong parallel adjacent paths which intersect the line in which theselections from the several series are to be assembled.

More particularly, the present invention relates to the provision inkeyboards of the type described of novel means for visibly indicating tothe operator of the machine the characters, etc. which, by operation ofselected keys, have been disposed in predetermined relation to eachother as, for example, a common printing line.

The keyboard construction of the present invention is particularlyadaptable for use with a checkwriter of the general character disclosedin U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,794,266, dated February 24, 1931, forcontrolling the relative longitudinal movement of a group of type barswhich respectively carry a series of numerical printing characters inrelatively spaced relation to each other along each of the bars.

Keyboards of the general type comprehended by the present invention havebeen in use for some time but they are characterized by at least onedisadvantage in that after selected keys have been operated to set-upthe machine preparatory to a printing or like operation, it is difficultfrom a position above the board to readily check and ascertain that theproper keys desired have been set because it is quite difficult todistinguish the keys on the board which have been set from those whichhave not been set.

With this in mind, the present invention has for its principal objectthe provision in a keyboard of the type described of novel means forvisibly indicating to the operator of the machine just what keys havebeen operated in order that the operator readily may check thecorrectness of the set-up of the machine prior to operating the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel indicating means asset forth which is of relatively simplified and inexpensive construetion, and which is entirely efiicient and efiective in operation anduse.

These and other objects of the invention and the various features anddetails of the construction and operation thereof are hereinafter fullyset forth and described with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a checkwriting machine embodyingthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the checkwriter as viewed fromline 2-2, Fig. 1, with a portion of the keyboard broken away to showcertain details of underlying mechanisms which operate with and arecontrolled by the keyboard;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation takenthrough the keyboard of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a detached view in perspective showing the construction andarrangement of certain detail parts of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional elevation of one of thekeys of the keyboard with the key in the raised inoperative position.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 showing the key in the depressed oroperative position;

Fig. '7 is an inverted plan view of the forward portion of the keyboarddetached from the checkwriter as viewed from, line 1-1, Fig. 3; and

Fig. 8 is a detached view in perspective of mechanism for clearing thekeyboard for a succeeding operation each time the machine is operated.

Referring now more particularly tothe drawings, the present invention isillustrated in conjunction with a checkwriter machine comprising a basestructure A in which a printing and scarifying platen, the main shaft,and other operating mechanisms of the device are enclosed; an uppersuperstructure B in which the printing elements, the actuating meanstherefor, and the type-inking apparatus are enclosed; a slot C betweenthe base and superstructure and into which a check or other paper isadapted to be placed and positioned for printing; a keyboard assembly Dsuperimposed on the superstructure B for controlling the selection andpositioning of the printing elements; and an operating handle E by whichmovement of the printing elements into alignment on the printing line,the inking of the characters, printing of the check, and clearing of thekeyboard is accomplished, for example, as described in the aforesaidPatent No. 1,794,266.

With reference more particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawings, the top ofthe superstructure B is closed by a plate l which constitutes thefoundation structure of the keyboard D, and supported on this plate Inin spaced parallel relation thereto is a cover plate H that underlieslarge opening in a rectangular frame member I 2 having edge portions l3which curve downwardly as shown and seat upon curved edge portions ofthe aforesaid plate Hi.

Mounted for axial movement through suitable openings provided in thecover plate H is a plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of columnsa, ii, 0, d, c, J, g and h extending transversely of the machine andeach including a plurality of keys 2|, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 21, 28 and 29respectively, marked individually with characters in the form of digits1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 as indicated, for example in Fig. 2 of thedrawings.

With reference to Figs. 3,4 and'5 ofthe drawings, each of the keys 2! etseq. is provided at its lower or inner end with a coaxially projectngpin 3| that projects loosely through an openng 32 which is provided inthe fiat portion 33 of an actuator element 34. The pin 31 is retainedagainst withdrawal from the opening 32 by means of an enlarged headportion 35 on the pin. Projecting downwardly from the rearward edge ofthe portion 33 of the actuator element 34, at each of the opposite sidesthereof, is a lug 35 which .isadapted to pass through an opening 3?provided in the plate 10. Each lug 35 is notched as indicated at 38 toprovide a hook at each side of the element 3& by which said element ispivotally connected to the plate 10. At a predetermined pointtransversely of the element portion 33 on the free end thereof theelement 34 is provided with a depending tongue 39 which is adapted topass through an opening 48 provided in the plate [0. Each tongue 39 isprovided with a notch 4| which engages with the shoulder '42 formed byone end of the opening 44] through which the tongue 39 projects.

The shoulders formed by the notch 41 and the shoulder 62 normally aremaintained incontact with each other by a bow-spring 43 which isconfined between the plate 10 and the underside of the fiat portion 33of the element 34. The spring 43 tends to urge the element 34 and itsassociated key upwardly from the depressed position thereof shown inFig. 6 to the position shown ir which is the inoperative position.

Slidably mounted on the underside of the plate iii in parallel relationto each of column keys 2i et seq. is a locking slide 45 which isprovided with projecting portions or ofisets 46 disposed respectivelyfor engagement with the tongues 35 or" the actuator elements 34associated with the keys in each such column. The tongue 39 of eachelement 34 is provided with a shoulder 4'! which, when the key isdepressed thereby actuating the element 34 from the position shown inFig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6, engages the underside of thecorresponding or adjacent projectionor offset 45 of the slide 35 asindicated in said Fig. 6, thereby retaining the element 34 and itsassociated key in its depressed condition with the tongue 39 thereof inprojected position for controlling positioning of the associated typebar (not shown).

In order to efiect locking of the keys and associated actuators 34 inthe-depressed or operative position as described, the slide is firstactuated to the left with respect to Fig. 5 by an inclined surface 43 ofthe tongue 39 engaging the edge 49 of the adjacent projection or offset46 of the slide 45. As each key and actuator is moved from the positionshown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. '6, this inclined surface 48 ofthe tongue 39 moves the slide 45 to the left with respect to thedrawings until the shoulder 4'? is depressed. below the plane of theunderside of the slide 45 whereupon the said slide is moved in the righthand direction by a spring 55 to engage the slide projection or ofisetit over the tongue shoulder 4'l'. The spring 50 in the present instanceis bent around and anchored by hooks 5i secured to the underside of theplate Ill and passes around lugs 52 formed on the forward ends of theslides 45, respectively.

After any one key in any one column has been depressed and locked by theassociated slide 45, the depression of any other key in that particularcolumn will effect movement of the slide in the left hand section withrespect to the drawings, causing the release of a previously depressedkey in thesame column so that errors in selection occurring in any oneof the columns may be readily corrected at any time prior tocommencement of operating movement of the handle E in thecounterclockwise direction from its inoperative position shown in Fig.1.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided at one sideof the fiat portion 33 of each of the actuator elements 34 an upstandinglug or standard 55 which has its upper or free end slotted or notched asindicated at 58 to receive therein a correspondingly notched orbifurcated end portion 5'1 of an indicator strip 53. As shown moreparticularly in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the slotted or bifurcated endportion 51 f the indicator strip 58 is disposed at an acute angle withrespect to the elongated main body portion 58 of said strip, and theother or free end of the strip lies in therplane of the strip main bodyportion 59 and is enlarged laterally to provide a flat head portion 60for reception of suitable markings of indicia corresponding to themarking of the particular key with which the strip 58 is associated.

The strips 58 are of different lengths according to the position on thekeyboard of the particular key with which each strip is associated.Thus, each indicator strip 58 is of such length that upon actuation ofits associated key into the operative position shown in 6 of thedrawings, the head portion 60 thereof will be moved into a projectedposition with respect to the other indicator strips associated with thesame column of keys and disposed in underlying relation with a windowopening 6! provided in the cover frame l2 so that the marking orcharacter on the head portion 6B of the strip is clearly visible andapparent to the operator of the machine. When all of the indicatorstrips 58 associated with a given column of keys are in the inoperativeor retracted position, the digit 0 marked on the upper surface of atransverse channel 39 is exposed to view through the window SI as shownin Fig. 2.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that when any one ofthe keys 2! et seq. in any of the columns a, b, c, d, e, f, g, or it isactuated to the position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the indicatorstrip 58 associated therewith likewise is actuated to project the headportion 66 thereof into position underlying the win-' dow opening 6| sothat the character thereon, which corresponds to the characterappearingon the key depressed, is plainly visible to the operator of the machineso that he can readily observe that the correct key has been actuatedand the machine correctly set up or, conversely, that an error has beenmade in settin up the machine. Thus, for example, in the event that thekey 22 of column b and the key 24 of column e are actuated, representingthe characters 2 and 4, respectively, the associated indicator strips 58will be actuated to position their head portions 60 beneath the windowopening 6| so that the corresponding characters 2 and 4, respectively,thereon, are plainly visible to the operator of the machine in themanner shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

All selections on the keyboard may be removed or canceled and thekeyboard cleared by moving the handle E in the clockwise direction fromthe inoperative position shown in Fig. 1. For this purpose a release bar62 is provided and extends transversely across the machine in thesuperstructure B adjacent the lugs 52 on the slides 45 as indicated inFig. 3. One end of the release bar 62 is slidably mounted in a guideway63 secured to the side wall of the superstructure and the other end ofsaid bar 62 is integrally connected with a slide bar 64 which isprovided with depending lugs 65 and 66, respectively, slidably mountedon a bar 61. A spring 68 disposed between the lug 66 and a fixed part ofthe machine in the superstructure 13 tends to remove the release bar 62into an inoperative position, i. e. to the right with respect to Fig. 3of the drawings. The lug 66 is provided with a lateral projection 69which extends outwardly through a slot or opening formed in the sidewall of the superstructure B and is arranged to be engaged by a camsurface ll formed on the operating handle E of the machine and arrangedso that when the handle is moved in the clockwise direction from itsinoperative position shown in Fig. 1, the cam surface ll engages theprojection 69 thereby actuating the release bar 62 to engage all of thelugs 52 on the slides 45 and move all of said slides simultaneously inthe lefthand direction with respect to Fig. 3 of the drawings. Thiscauses the shoulders ll of each and all of the depressed key actuatorelements 34 to be released from the slides 45 whence they are raisedimmediately to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawingsby their respective bow-springs 43. Release of the actuator elements totheir inoperative positions as described operates also to withdraw theprojected associated indicator strips 58 so that the character bearinghead portions 60 thereof are withdrawn from view beneath the windowopening.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the presentinvention provides, in a keyboard for checkwriters and like machines,novel means for visibly indicating to the operator of the machine justwhat keys have been operated in order that the operator may readilycheck the correctness of the set-up of the machine prior to operatingthe same. In addition, the present invention provides a novel indicatingmeans as set forth which is of relatively simplified and inexpensiveconstruction, and is entirely eflicient and effective in operation anduse.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to suchdisclosure, and changes and modifications may be made therein andthereto within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a keyboard mechanism, a plurality of columns each comprising aseries of independently operable selector keys individually marked withpredetermined indicia, an actuator element operatively associated witheach key and movable therewith between inoperative and operativepositions, indicator means connected to each of said actuator elementsand marked with indicia corresponding to the indicia on the associatedkey, each said indicator means in the inoperative position of itsactuator element being disposed in a retracted position with its indiciaconcealed from view and actuable by the actuator element into aprojected position with its indicia exposed to view, a longitudinallyextending locking slide for each column of keys, and means on saidactuator elements cooperable with said slides to retain the selectedactuator elements in operative position with the associated indicatormeans disposed for view by the operator.

2. In a keyboard mechanism, a plurality of columns each comprising aseries of independently operable selector keys individually marked withpredetermined indicia, an actuator element operatively associated witheach key and movable therewith between inoperative and operativepositions, indicator means connected to each of said actuator elementsand marked with indicia corresponding to the indicia on the associatedkey, each said indicator means in the inoperative position of itsactuator element being disposed in a retracted position with its indiciaconcealed from view and actuable by the actuator element into aprojected position with its indicia exposed to view, a longitudinallyextending locking slide for each column of keys, means on said actuatorelements cooperable with said slides to retain the selected actuatorelements in operative position with the associated indicator meansdisposed for view by the operator, an operating handle, and meansoperable by movement of said handle in one direction for releasingselected keys from their operative positions and simultaneouslywithdrawing the associated indicator means from view.

3. In a keyboard mechanism, a plurality of columns each comprising aseries of independently operable selector keys individually marked withpredetermined indicia and independently movable from normallyinoperative to operative positions, an actuator element operativelyassociated with each key and actuable thereby from inoperative tooperative positions, spring means biasing said actuator elements andkeys to inoperative position, indicator means connected to each of saidactuator elements and marked with indicia corresponding to the indiciaon the associated key, each said indicator means in the inoperativeposition of its actuator element and key being disposed in a retractedposition with its indicia concealed from view and upon movement of thekey to its operative position being actuable by the actuator elementinto a projected position with its indicia exposed to View, alongitudally extending locking slide for each column of keys, means onsaid actuator elements cooperable with said slides to retain theselected actuator elements and keys in operative position with theassociated indicator means disposed for view, an operating handle, andmeans operable by movement of said handle in one direction for releasingsaid selected actuator elements and keys from their operative positionsand simultaneously withdrawing the associated indicator means from View.

4. In a keyboard mechanism, a cover member having a window openingtherein, a plurality of columns each comprising a series ofindependently operable selector keys associated with said coverindividually marked with predetermined indicia, an actuator elementoperatively associated with each key and movable therewith betweeninopcrati' e and operative positions, indicator means connected to eachof said actuator elements and marked with indicia correspondin to theindicia on the associated key, each sale. 1" dicatoi means in theinoperative posi- J. tion of its actuator element being in a retractedion with its 'indicia removed from view through st window opening andactuable by the actuator element into a projected position with theindicla thereon disposed to view beneath to window opening, alongitudinally extending locking slide for each column or" keys, andmeans on actuator elements cooperable with said slides to retainselected actuator elements in operative position with the associatedindicator means disposed to View through said window.

In a keyboard mechanism, a cover member having a window opening therein,a plurality of columns each comprising a series of independ cntlyoperable selector keys associated with said cover and individuallymarked with predetermined indicia, an actuator element operativelyassociated with each key and movable therewith between inoperative andoperative positions, in dicator means connected to each of said actuatorelements and marked with indicia corresponding to the indicia on theassociated key, each said indicator means in the inoperative position ofits actuator element being in a retracted position with its indiciaremoved from View through said window op ning and actuable by theactuator element into projected position with the thereon disposed toview beneath the w ndow opening, a longitudinally extending lockingslide for column of keys, means on said actuator elements ccoperablewith said slides to retain selected actuator elements in operativeposition with the associated indicator means disposed to View throughsaid Window, an operating handle, and means operable by movement of saidhandle in one direction for releasing selected keys from their operativepositions and simultaneously drawing the associated indicator means fromview through said window opening.

G. In a keyboard mechanism, a plurality of columns each comprising aseries of independently operable selector keys individually marked withpredetermined indicia, an actuator element operatively associated witheach key and movable therewith between inoperative to operativepositions, an elongated indicator strip connected at one end to each ofsaid actuator elements and having their other ends marked with indiciacorresponding to the indicia on the associated key, each said indicatorstrip in the inoperative position of its actuator element being in aretracted position with its indicia removed from view through saidwindow opening and actuable by the actuator element into a projectedposition with the indicia thereon disposed to view beneath the windowopening, a longitudinally extending locking slide for each column ofkeys, and means on said actuator elements cooperable with said slides toretain selected actuator elements in operative position with theassociated indicator means disposed for view.

7. In a keyboard mechanism, a plurality of columns each comprising aseries of independently operable selector keys individually marked withpredetermined indicia, an actuator element operatively associated witheach key and movable therewith between inoperative to operativepositions, an elongated indicator strip connected at one end to each ofsaid actuator elements and having their other ends marked with indiciacorresponding to the indicia on the associated key, each said indicatorstrip in the inoperative position of its actuator element being in aretracted position with its indicia removed from view through saidwindow opening and actuable by the actuator element into a projectedposition with the indicia thereon disposed to view beneath the windowopening, a longitudinally extending locking slide for each column ofkeys, means on said actuator elements cooperable with said slides toretain selected actuator elements in operative position with theassociated indicator means disposed for view, and means for releasingkeys from their operative positions and simultaneously withdrawing theassociated indicator means from view.

JOHN WHITAKER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,321,348 Willis Nov. 11, 1919 1,575,885 Woodward Mar. 9, 19261,783,182 Carlson Dec. 2, 1930 1,787,234 Bohrer Dec. 30, 1930 1,792,644Kuhrt Feb. 17, 1931 1,794,266 Whitaker Feb. 24, 1931 1,916,538 SmithJuly 4, 1933 1,941,318 Payne Dec. 26, 1933

